I first met Mrs. Maralynn Markano the first semester of my junior year of high school. I was in her first and second hour Advanced Speech class followed by her third and fourth hour Acting class. I had not spent that much time with a single teacher since the fifth grade.

I enrolled in these courses thinking they would be an easy A. However, Mrs. Markano’s classes turned out to be more than that. I’ve always been a person who cared what others thought about me, and, in high school, it’s hard not to be. But that changed in Markano’s class. After a few weeks with Mrs. Markano, I knew that this short, quirky, and feisty woman would change my life.

I remember feeling absolutely ridiculous in acting class playing games like Zip Zap Zop, Waa, and Bippity Bippity Bippity Bop. But looking back at it, these games were never solely about getting comfortable with my classmates. They were about getting comfortable with myself as well. Mrs. Markano found a way to disguise self evaluation as a silly game, make a classroom of strangers feel like a family, and tear down the wall that students hide behind and prove to us that who we are is okay.

As the semester progressed, my appreciation for Mrs. Markano grew. We started to build a relationship and my trust in her flourished. Advice was given equally in and out of the classroom. I began to notice how capable and dedicated she is not only to her job but to her students. She made me want to be more like her. She’s so chaotically organized. She’s the only teacher I know who can deviate from her lesson plan and still teach her students effectively.

Now, because I am involved in an acting class and a  Arrowhead Drama Production, I spend many hours with Markano outside of school. Since she is my director, I’ve seen the real her: the uncut and unedited version. This definitely helps me become more comfortable with her. I have quickly learned she is inviting, warm, and compassionate but also stern, authoritative, and sassy.

Markano has always been there for her students with a smile on her face no matter what what was happening at home. She is more than a cool teacher: she is like a second mom to her students, on top of being an actual mom.  Mrs. Markano has also taught me that it’s okay to be myself. She taught me to be proud of who I am, because she is.  She made me feel that no matter what I do, whether I fail or succeed, she will be proud of me for being me.  She has made a tremendous impact on my life and I will always remember what she has done for me. From being a fantastic teacher to an outstanding director, Markano is strong and selfless. She may only seem like your average short and good-kind-of-crazy teacher, but I promise she is much more than that. So thank you Mrs. Markano for being the best teacher I’ve come to know.